Fireplace damper



April 20 1926. 1,581,403

. M. J. SKUBE I FIREPLACE DAMPER Filed Oct 19, 1925 Exam-E 6,

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Fatented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNETED ST ATELS MATHIAS J. SKUBFJ, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FIREPLACE DAMPER.

Application filed October 19, 1925. Serial No. 63,416.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Martinis J. Simian, a citizen of the United States,residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lVashington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireplace Dam pers;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' The invention relates to improvements in dampers of the type used inthe throats of fireplaces to not only control the draft, but to preventdescent of cold air from the chimney when the fireplace is not in use.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved framecarrying a pivoted damper plate and constructed to of fectively supportthe crown at the open front of the fireplace, with the lower edge ofsuch crown spaced downwardly from the major portion of the frame.

Another aim is to provide new and improved means for adjusting thepivoted damper plate and holding it in any of a lnrality of differentopen positions.

With the foregoing in view,'the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the improveddamper installed in the throat of a fireplace.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the damper separate from the fireplace,

Figure 3 is an end elevation.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view as indicated by line4 --4: of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the adjusting lever for the pivoteddamper plate.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 6 designates ahorizontally disposed, elongated frame, preferably formed in one pieceof cast metal, although in some instances, it could be otherwiseconstructed. This frame includes a forwardly inclined back plate 7 and apair of vertically disposed end plates 8 joined to and projectingforwardly from the ends of said back plate, the front portions of saidend plates having downwardprojections 9. A rearwardly inclined frontplate 10 is joined to the front ends of the end plates 8 and to theirdownward projections 9, said front plate having end portions 11 whichproject laterally bey nd the end walls 8, these laterally projecting endportions preferably having their outer edges disposed in downwardlydiverging relation, as disclosed in Fig. 2. The upper edges of the backand front plates 7 and 10 are disposed substantially at the sameelevation, but said front plate pro j ects downwardly to a planeconsiderably below the back plate 7 and is provided with an integrallongitudinal flange, projecting forwardly and disposed in said plane,said flange being indicated by the character 12. The lower edge of theback plate 7 is provided with an inte ral outwardly projecting flange 18which is relatively narrow when compared to the flange 12, and otherflanges 14: project'outwardly from the lower edges of the end plates 8,throughout the major portions of these plates. The front end portions ofthe flanges 14 however, extend horizontally across the outer sides ofthe downward projections 9 and are integrally joined to the upperportions of the laterally projecting plate ends 11.

The flanges 13 and 1e assist in properly supporting and anchoring theframe 6 in the throat of a fire place, as will be clear from Fig. 1, andthe flange 12 then effeetively supports the crown C at the open front ofthe fire place, with the lower edge of such crown much lower than themajor portion of the frame 6. Thus, this frame is not only obscured fromview, but I am enabled to use a relatively wide front plate 10 whichwill effectively direct smoke rearwardly and upwardly instead of havingany tendency to permit it to escape into the room,

I have above stated that the edges of the projecting plate portions 11diverge downwardly and attention may here be directed to the fact thatthe ends of the flange 12 diverge forwardly so that said flange isprovided with acute front corners 12 which may be embedded in themasonry at the vertical sides of the fireplace, so that the flange andthe front portion of the frame will be well supported, to in turn carrythe weight of the fireplace crown and the masonry thereover.

A damper plate 15 is provided to close the upper portion of the frame 6,said plate being preferably transversely arched, as

shown This plate is pivoted at its front edge with the latter extendingalong the upper edge of the front plate 10, and while any desiredpivotal mounting means could be employed, 1 preferably provide the platewith integral trunnions 16, one of these trunnions being received in anopening in one of the end plates 8, while the other is similarlyreceived in a notch 17 in the other of said end plates. Thisconstruction permits quick and easy insertion or removal of the damperplate and also expedites manufacture. When the plate 15 is closed, itsrear portion lies upon the back wall 7 and it will be seen that its endsabut the inner side of the end plates 8.

Novel adjusting means is provided for the damper plate 15. The lowerside of this plate is provided at one end with a plurality of ribs 18which extend longitudinally of said plate. Fulcrumed at 19 to the innerside of one of the end plates 8, under the ribbed endof the damper plate15, is a lever 20 having an upper end 21 to engage the ribs 18. Byswinging this lever in one direction, opening of the plate 15 iseffected, whereas movement of the lever in the other direction permitsclosing of the damper plate, and by enga ement of the lever end 21 withthe ribs 18, it will be seen that said damper plate will be effectivelyheld in any open position to which it is adjusted. The fulcrum 19 of thelever 20 is preferably formed with a lateral lug 22 normally preventingslipping of the lever 20 therefrom, said lug however being receivable ina groove 23 formed in the lever, when the latter is turned to anabnormal position. Thus, the lever may be readily removed or applied anda detail is produced which is of manufacturing advantage.

The device is simple and inexpensive, yet is efficient and verydesirable, and when the damper plate is open, with the fireplace inoperation, any descending cold air will be deflected by the shape of thedevice and cannot descend into the room. Of course, when the fireplaceis not in use, the damper plate is entirely closed and it theneffectively prevents entrance of cold air.

On account of the excellent results obtainable from the detailsdisclosed, they are preferably followed, but within the scope of theinvention as claimed, slight variations may be made.

I claim:

In a fireplace damper; a frame, a gravityclosed damper plate pivotallymounted to close the upper portion of said frame, the lower side of saiddamper plate having at one end a plurality of parallel ribs which extendlongitudinally of said plate, and a lever fulcrumed at the inner side ofsaid frame for swinging movement in a vertical plane transverse to saidplate, said lever acting to raise said plate and having an upper end forengagement with said ribs to prop said plate in different openpositions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

MATHIAS J. SKUBE.

